Catcher in the Rye - what do you think?

[Soledad]

It seems strange that they're having people read that book in university. It's standard h.s. or even junior high reading. At any rate, I found the book to be absolutely great for the teenage mind.

I think Holden is funny and amusing, but he is supposed to be a teenager. You know, brooding, self-absorbed and angsty. So, if you have a hard time with those qualities, I can see how you'd find him annoying.

At any rate, the book is an absolute classic.

[Nomilynn]

The course is about adolescent lit and how teens are portrayed in literature.. that's why it's in a univ. course

[Soledad]

Ah! That makes great sense. I was a little worried about university curriculum for a second.

I think Holden is a great representation of adolescence. At least he was for me.

[Ann]

Originally posted by Cataholic
How in goodness's name would you ever know something like that "for a fact"??????

Uhhhhh... Are you really serious?! Not only have I lived in Sweden for 19 years, I am also very interested and active in censorship matters, be it online, in the USA or in Sweden. I know the USA has quite a double moral when it comes to things like these (for example it's ok to show all sorts of violence on TV as long as you don't use "bad words" ) but Sweden does not.

[Cataholic]

Originally posted by Ann
Lut, I doubt it's been translated... Hasn't been translated to Swedish so I doubt it has been translated to Dutch...

It has been translated in both Swedish and Dutch. The Swedish version leaves out the swear words. That = censoring.

I go back to my original statment, "How do you ever know something like that for a fact"?

By your own posts...you were wrong. Not right. Wrong. So, my answer to you is, "Yes, I am serious".

I don't know what censorship issues you are both interested and active in...but, Ann, you were WRONG. No one posted anything about the 'anti US' rhetoric you are constantly spewing. The issue was about CITR, not, once again, your personal thoughts on the USA.

[Nomilynn]

Originally posted by Soledad

I think Holden is a great representation of adolescence. At least he was for me.

I thought he was a great representation of an adolescent who hadn't yet grieved and was trying to deal with the pain without knowing how. I don't know that I agree he's a great representation of an "average" teen. But a troubled teen, yes

[Edwina's Secretary]

Now this has me thinking about the whole batch of "coming of age" books that were required reading in high school...The Chosen being one I particularly enjoyed and which led me to read every book by the author. I do continue to wonder why they were all about young men coming of age but my question is....

There was a book about young men in a private school that involved one kid falling out of a tree and breaking some body part. I have such a sense of the book but can't remember the title or much else.

Can anyone help?

[Cataholic]

Originally posted by Edwina's Secretary
There was a book about young men in a private school that involved one kid falling out of a tree and breaking some body part. I have such a sense of the book but can't remember the title or much else.

Can anyone help?

Humpty Dumpty? I read all the required reading books in high school. I am afraid they didn't leave much of an impression on me. I can barely recall CITR, Death of a Salesman, Of Mice and Men...so, I can't help with anyone faling out of a tree. I don't think I know anything about The Chosen, either.

[Soledad]

I would say Holden is an amplified version of an average teen. I had no major trauma to speak of, no dead brother to grieve, but I was similarly jaded about life and disgusted with most adult behaviour at Holden's age. Most teens go through major inner turmoil, regardless of how perfect their life may seem (Ordinary People is a good one for this). Especially with this generation and divorce levels.

Edwina- I know the book you're talking about, just can't remember the title. I can even picture the book cover!! I, too, loved The Chosen. I read it in the sixth grade because of an older brother had it on hand and it had a big influence on me.

I do remember reading plenty of girl coming of age books. Oh, Judy Blume!

[Edwina's Secretary]

Unfortunately, Judy Blume wasn't writing yet when I was a teenager!

Chaim Potok, who wrote The Chosen wrote a book titled Davita's Harp which is a girl coming of age book. (He wrote it many years later so it wasn't in my high school reading!) There is a passage in it that struck me emotionally in a way no other has -- perhaps the way some feel about CITR! I have read all of his books and really enjoy his writing.

Soledad...if you like The Chosen you should look for Davita's Harp !

[Nomilynn]

Sara - do you remember anything else about the book? It sounds vaguely familiar and it's driving me nuts! I really want to find it

Judy Blume is my favourite author. I've read and collected all of her books, including her biography. I emailed her once, too, and she wrote back! It was very exciting

[Soledad]

As a Puerto Rican Catholic kid who grew up surrounded by Polish and Russian Jews, you can imagine what kind of identity complex I had! I loved The Chosen partly because I thought I was part Jew by association (hey, I'd been eating matzoh ball soup since I was five and changed diapers for plenty freshly brisqued baby boys).

As long as we're guessing book titles I used to read this series of children's books about a Jewish family in New York and their five daughters. Anyone remember that?

Edwina, I'll be looking out for Davita's Harp!

[Edwina's Secretary]

All of a Kind Family -- my FAVORITE books as a kid. There was a whole series. Yikes...I am being flooded with memories of the sisters and the brother who was born last. Mother would hide pennies so the girls would do a thorough job of dusting. The aunt who developed polio -- a greenhorn.....WOW!!!

[Soledad]

ACKKKKK!!!

I am suddenly ten years old!!!

[Edwina's Secretary]

How's this.....Ella, Hennie, Sara, Charlotte, and little Gertie !